Electronic document answering machine

ABSTRACT

An Electronic Document Answering Machine is adapted to connect to remote information sources and to download digital documents including e-mail and WEB pages, and to store the documents for later review by a user. The Answering machine has an alert device for alerting a user that new documents are available for review, and an initializing device for a user to cause documents to be communicated for review one-at-a-time. In a preferred embodiment documents are communicated over a speaker via voice synthesis. In an alternative preferred embodiment a small display is provided wherein documents may be displayed in alphanumeric characters. The answering machine can be implemented as a stand-alone device or can be connected via a serial port to a host PC for transferring documents to the PC for processing and review. In other embodiments the Answering Machine is implemented as a system in a PC, with alert and selective input added as an interface. The interface can be in a keyboard, and can be provided by existing keys and LEDs on a keyboard. An Answering Machine is also provided as a set-top-box for a TV, downloading digital documents from the Internet and providing the documents with user prompting to a TV via an audio/video output. prompting may be by infra-red input from a remote controller.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is in the area of computer peripheraldevices, and pertains in particular to an electronic device for fetchingelectronic documents such as e-mail, voice mail, facsimile messages andthe like from network servers, particularly Internet servers, atprogrammed intervals, and signaling a user that such documents arewaiting to be reviewed..

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] With the advent of the World Wide Web (WWW) on the Internet, andthe increasing popularity of on-line services over telephone lines,E-Mail (electronic mail) and other forms of electronic documents andmessages have become a popular form of communication. In the discussionthat follows, email is used as a primary example of the sorts ofmessages and documents that may be processed, but it should beunderstood throughout that the invention disclosed and taught herein isbroadly applicable to electronic documents and messages of all sorts.

[0003] Conventionally, E-Mail is a service provided by an Internetprovider, that is, a commercial service connected to the Internet thatsells or otherwise provides software to users to establish Internetaccess. NetCom™, America On Line™, and others are examples. An Internetprovider has one or more servers, which are specialized computers,connected to phone lines for interconnecting with other Internet serversaround the world. A user installs the provider's software on his or hercomputer, connected by a modem to a telephone line, either ISDN oranalog, and executes the software. Typically a user interface queriesthe user for a password, then establishes and grants access to theInternet through the provider's hardware.

[0004] One of the services providers typically make available to theirsubscribers is E-Mail. Each user has an E-Mail address which is uniqueto all Internet users, not just those subscribing to a particularprovider's service. The service provider makes mass storage spaceavailable on an E-Mail server for its own subscriber's, identified byE-Mail address. Internet user's the world over can then send one anotherE-Mail, which will be saved at each person's service provider's server,and the subscriber may check periodically for new E-Mail, download,save, and print messages, and respond to the sender's messages. Thereare, as is known in the art, many differences and nuances among E-Mailsystems, and new capabilities are being regularly developed and broughtto market. Such services are called POP services in the art, for PostOffice Protocol.

[0005] There are, as stated above, also types of messages other thane-mail which may be electronically transmitted, much as e-mail isaccessed and transmitted; among these are facsimile messages and voicemail.

[0006] One common difficulty that has not been adequately addresseduntil the present invention is that it is somewhat cumbersome to accessE-Mail, regardless of provider. Typically, to access E-Mail, asubscriber has to turn on the computer connected to a modem, boot theInternet provider's software, enter a password by a user interface, thenwait for communication to be established, which typically involvesdisplay of an interactive interface, which includes a menu or Iconselection (or both) for activating the E-Mail service. Upon selectingthe E-Mail icon, a window appears wherein E-Mail messages are listed insome order, such date and time received.

[0007] Once a list of messages is received, a user can select individualmessages to read, wherein the actual message is displayed in the E-Mailwindow or another window; to save, in which case selected messages maybe saved to a mass storage device, such as a hard disk drive (HDD); toprint, in which case a listed message is downloaded from the remoteserver and printed on printer connected to the subscriber's computer, orto delete, in which case the selected message or messages are erased atthe provider's server. In some systems other options may be available.

[0008] In any case, the activity of keeping track of, and responding toE-Mail messages is somewhat cumbersome and time consuming. There areapplications known to the inventor which will periodically, on a timedbasis, access an E-Mail service and check for waiting messages, andnotify a user with an audio or visual alarm, or both, but thesefacilities require that the user's computer be on, and in many officesituations, the user does not wish to leave the computer on.

[0009] Even in a situation where a user does have the computer on whileat work, the E-Mail access requires logging onto the Internet andaccessing the E-Mail server, which might interfere with other activitiesat the computer.

[0010] What is needed is an Electonic Document Answering Machine, havingin one embodiment some electronic intelligence, a modem, a relativelysmall random access memory (RAM) space, a small non-volatile memory, anda minimum operating system. The Electronic Document Answering Machine isimplemented in a stand-alone enclosure and connects to a host by astandard serial or parallel port. This unit could be set to access theInternet periodically, check for mail, and have a light and/or audiosignal for notifying a user. The unit works whether or not the user'scomputer is on, and has buttons for playback and the like, wherein auser may have messages read out by synthesized voice. There are manyother useful functions such a machine will provide, as disclosed morefully below. Among these functions are receipt and handling of voicemail, facsimile messages, WEB pages, and other sorts of electronicdocuments and messages as needed, and such a machine could alert a userto the fact of any and all sorts aof such messages waiting to bereviewed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the invention an Electronic DocumentAnswering Machine is provided, comprising a CPU and memory connected bya communication bus; a modem connected to the bus for communicating on atelephone line; an announcement system for communicating storeddocuments to a user; an alert apparatus for signaling a user that newdocuments are waiting to be reviewed; and an input device for a user tosignal the system to communicate new documents to the user. The CPU,executing stored control code, periodically accesses remote sources overthe modem, downloads and stores digital documents in portions of thememory, and activates the alert apparatus as new documents are stored,and wherein the CPU in response to input from a user via the inputdevice, communicates stored documents one-at-a-time to the user.Communication to a user in some embodiments is by voice synthesis usinga built-in speaker, and in other embodiments by activation and controlof a small, built-in display, or by a combination or selection ofmethods. Because the machine is connected to a phone line, it is, insome embodiments, also adapted to receive and store voice calls like aconventional answering machine, and facsimile messages, which may bestored and vocalized or displayed like e-mail messages.

[0012] The machine may also comprise a serial port for connecting to ahost personal computer (PC), wherein the Electronic Document AnsweringMachine is adapted to communicate stored documents to the PC forprocessing. In this embodiment the PC may use the device transparentlyas a modem. The modem in the Answering Machine is preferably without aseparate CPU and the Answering Machine CPU serves the modem as well.

[0013] The Electronic Document Answering Machine accesses the Internetand downloads e-mail and selected WEB pages for a user, and then playsthe documents, such as by audio voice synthesis for e-mail, withprompting from the user. In this way it operates much as a telephoneanswering machine.

[0014] In some embodiments the Answering Machine of the invention isimplemented with elements of a host computer, adding the alert and theinitializing input. In other embodiments the answering machine isimplemented as a set-top-box for a TV. In this embodiment the AnsweringMachine downloads documents and plays them over the TV as prompted by auser, such as from a remote controller.

[0015] The Electronic Document Answering Machine is the first deviceavailable that allows regular electronic document message servicewithout having a PC full-on, and also provides an alert in a familiarway. The invention in its several embodiments saves time and money, andperforms the necessary functions more efficiently than in the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an Electronic Document AnsweringMachine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of internal hardware and connectivity ofthe Electronic Document Answering Machine of FIG. 1.

[0018]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an Electronic Document AnsweringMachine according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a keyboard with an ElectronicDocument Answering Machine interface according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0020]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an Electronic Document Answeringmachine implemented as a set-top box in an alternative embodiment of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an Electronic Document AnsweringMachine 11 according to one embodiment of the present invention.Answering Machine 11 is provided in a small case 13 having the generalappearance of answering machines as known in the art. In this embodimentthere are two buttons on the Electronic Document Answering Machine, eachcombined with an LED. Button 15 is an on/off toggle, and is combinedwith a green LED that lights in the on state. Button 17 is a playbutton, which, if the Answering Machine is on and there are messages toplay, initiates a play mode wherein the Answering Machine plays messagesin the order originally received. Playback is by voice synthesis, usingtechniques known in the art. Button 17 is combined with an LED in thisembodiment, controlled by circuitry which causes the LED to blink on andoff if there are messages that have not been played.

[0022] Electronic Document Answering Machine 11 in this embodiment is,as stated above, a stand-alone device connected to a computer and atelephone line. Accordingly, there is a telephone plug 23 for atelephone line, and a serial port 25 for connection to a serial port ofa host computer. In some embodiments the telephone port is an analogtelephone port and in some embodiments an ISDN port. Playback is througha speaker 21, and power is provided via a DC input port 19. In somealternative embodiments a small display 22 is provided wherein storedmessages may be displayed as alpha-numeric characters, using scrollingtechniques, and such a display may be used instead of, or in concertwith a speaker such as speaker 21.

[0023]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of internal hardware and connectivityfor the Electronic Document Answering Machine of FIG. 1 with a speakerand/or a display. DC input port 19 is connected in parallel to each ofthe power-using elements through power lines 27. A CPU 29, a ROM 31, aRAM 33, a mass storage device 35, a CODEC 37, and a switch interface 39,are all interconnected over an internal bus 41. CODEC 37 drives speaker21 for message playback. Optional display 22 is shown to be used eitherwith or instead of speaker 21 LED pushbuttons 15 and 17 described aboveconnect to CPU 29 through Interface 39 and bus 41. Modem 45 connects tophone plug 23 (see also FIG. 1), and serial port circuit 47 connects toserial port connector 25 as well as to bus 41. All internal componentsare shown as discrete devices in FIG. 2, but different combination ofthe internal circuitry elements shown may be implemented in someembodiments in common in IC circuitry.

[0024] Non-volatile storage unit 35 may take one or more of severalwell-known forms, such as hard disk drive (HDD), Flash memory,electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and thelike. The modem may be analog or ISDN.

[0025] Depending on use and construction, in some embodiments a modulardesign makes the ROM, Mass storage and Modem type user upgradeable. Thisallows service providers to preprogram specifics of their services, oreven do point-of-sales programming of user parameters, providingplug-and-play network access.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment operating code is embedded in ROM 31.This operating code includes in this embodiment a miniature operatingsystem allowing a host PC connected over serial port 47 to access theElectronic Document Answering Machine lake a file server. CPU 29 isprogrammed to provide file server functions as well as to serve as amicrocontroller for answering machine functions. In addition, modem 45is implemented without a separate microcontroller, and CPU 29 performsmodem functions for modem 45 as well. There are in addition embeddedInternet Access code and Browser code in this embodiment (although notall functions described are necessarily provided in every embodiment.

[0027] Most functions are in embedded ROM and execute-in-place ratherthan being loaded to RAM for execution. Extended hook tables allow codeto be redirected at mass storage 35 for upgrades and fixes, as well asfor flexibility. Careful selection of components and careful design,such as eliminating the modem CPU, using flash memory (preferably voicegrade with ECC), use of power management techniques, and so firth, allowthe unit to be powered by DC wall plug instead of the host PC powersupply or an on-board conversion power supply. This is an importantconsideration for the unique activity of the Electronic DocumentAnswering Machine.

[0028] The embedded code for the Electronic Document Answering Machineexecuted by CPU 29 provides a number of unique functions. For example,the host PC no longer has to perform the functions of E-Mail access andpresentation on an ongoing basis. This function is carried out by theintelligence of the Answering Machine. While the host PC connectedthrough serial port 47 is on an there is normal activity (presumably thehost is being regularly used by an operator), the Electronic DocumentAnswering Machine under this full-use circumstance accesses the Internetand downloads any available user e-mail from one or post office servershaving addresses programmed into the unit.

[0029] When a user shuts down the machine, or stops working (sensed asby power management programming on the host), the Electronic DocumentAnswering Machine reduces download frequency according to optimal rulestaking into account for example time of day/month/year, holidays, etc.Thus, when the user is active at his machine, the mail arrives withoutdelay, but cost is saved when there is no need to immediately receivemail.

[0030] The Electronic Document Answering Machine in this embodiment neednot be connected to the host in addition to another modem. TheElectronic Document Answering Machine assumes a transparent mode whenneeded by a user/operator at the host PC, and behaves as a modem of itsrespective class.

[0031] In this embodiment World Wide Web (WWW) pages are programmed forcached pre-fetching, notifying the user of new material being available.The unit can also could receive FAX and Voice messages, offering amultitude of programmable mail boxes.

[0032] In operation, a user turns on the Electronic Document AnsweringMachine by pushbutton 15. When on, the pre-programmed and embeddedfunctions operate on a continuous basis as needed. When messages arereceived and stored, such as e-mail or WWW pages regularly accessed, thesystem illuminates or blinks the LED in pushbutton 17 informing theuser/operator that mail or other messages are waiting. Importantly, allservices of the Electronic Document Answering Machine work whether thehost PC is on or off.

[0033] In the case of e-mail, voice mail, fax and the like, that is, allnon-graphic messages, activating pushbutton 17 causes the messages to beplayed over speaker 21. The messages stay in memory though, untildownloaded to the host PC or erased by intention. Downloaded WWW pagesare cached until the host PC is turned on and the pages are loaded tothe PC for display. Alternatively, even printed material on a WWW pagemay be vocalized, and in some embodiments, specific portions of specificpages may be flagged for vocalization as messages. Caller ID functionsin some embodiments are integrated into the functionality of theE-Mail-Answering Machine.

[0034] In alternative embodiments an LCD display is added and messagescan then be displayed on the LCD (by scrolling for longer messages) aswell as, or instead of, being rendered vocally by voice synthesis, asdescribed above. In these embodiments a display is connected to bus 41and is controlled by CPU 29 in concert with display circuitry.

[0035] In an alternative embodiment the Electronic Document AnsweringMachine is implemented using components of the host PC for CPU, memory,speaker, modem, and the like. In this embodiment a speaker is added ifthe host does not have an adequate speaker, and an LED and an initiationpushbutton is added or dedicated to use by the E-Mail answering system.An alert LED 51 and a pushbutton 53 is implemented in some embodimentsof this sort in a small box 49 which is attached to the host computer(FIG. 3). The extra box, while recognizable and convenient, is notabsolutely necessary in this embodiment. The components needed(pushbutton, alert LED) can be placed elsewhere, such as in aspecialized interface on the host computer box, monitor, keyboard andthe like. The interface can be on any convenient apparatus at the user'snormal workstation.

[0036] The specialized software in this embodiment runs on the host PC,and the elements necessary for operation are integrated with theoperating modes of the PC in such a way that the answering machinefunctions operate in power-saving modes as well as when the computer isfull-on. For example, the Electronic Document Answering Machinefunctions operate when the monitor is powered down, and when thecomputer itself is in standby or suspend modes.

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 4, in some embodiments of the sortdescribed immediately above, the standard keyboard of the host PC isswitched for a keyboard 55 having an Electronic Document AnsweringMachine interface, this being at the minimum an extra key or pushbutton57, a speaker 59 (if the PC host speaker is not adequate or usable) andan LED 61 to provide the alert function for mail waiting. The Electronicdocument answering keyboard can have the interface at any convenientlocation.

[0038] In the special keyboard embodiment of the Electronic DocumentAnswering Machine the answering machine interface operates when the hostsystem is in power-saving modes as well as when it is full-on. A singlekeystroke delivers all messages in order of preprogrammed preference.

[0039] In some embodiments of this sort a special keyboard is notrequired. Instead, a little-used key (scroll lock, for example) isdedicated to initiate playback of messages, and a little-used LED(scroll-lock LED for example) is dedicated as the Answering Alert LED.

[0040] So in many embodiments of the machine the Electronic DocumentAnswering Machine external elements are reduced to a single button (key,etc.) and a single alert signaler (LED, etc.).

[0041] In all of these alternative embodiments there are two alternativemodes of operation. In the first mode, messages and other digital docsare downloaded from external sources (Internet, Remote Office Net), andstored. When new docs are downloaded the alert is activated. Togglingthe pushbutton dedicated to answering machine functions then causes themessages to be vocalized and/or displayed. Each successive pressing ofthe button brings a new message to the fore.

[0042] In the second operating mode messages are not downloaded on ascheduled basis, but when the activating button is depressed, the systemaccesses the programmed remote maibox(es) and downloads the messages.When the downloading process is done the alert is activated. Eachsuccessive depression of the pushbutton then reads (opens/plays) amessage in the order the messages were retrieved.

[0043] The Electronic Document Answering Machine in various embodimentsis integrated with existing services. For example, with Microsoft Mail™,CC-Mail™, and Microsoft Exchange™ on networks two modes are used asabove. If software is active, MAPI is used to check status of the mail.Intervals are forced by software. If mail is not present, the E-Mailfunctions are launched at a predetermined time to get mail, then servicecontinues as above.

[0044] With Microsoft Exchange™ on the Internet and/or Remote Access,MAPI is used to determine whether pickup is scheduled (normally not). Atpredetermined times the mail is picked up (7:30 AM; 1:00 PM; 4:00 PM;for example).

[0045] For Eudora™ and Netscape on the Internet file directory signatureis used to determine changes in mail (no MAPI support). At predeterminedtimes the mail is picked up. For proprietary packages on the Internetthe same approach is used as for Eudora™ described above. This requiresuser setup of files. Compuserve™ integration is done by the sameapproach as for Eudora™ as well. The same is true for AOL™. As manyoptions as possible are autodetected on installation.

[0046] Referring now to FIG. 5, the Electronic Document AnsweringMachine in yet another alternative embodiment is implemented in a smallbox 63 that is placed on top of a TV 67 (set-top box). In thisembodiment the box has a light 65 for the alert function and many of theelements of the embodiment of FIG. 2. Specifically this set top unit hasa CPU, mass storage, small RAM, ROM with embedded code, aninteconnecting bus, and a modem connecting to a phone line for Internetaccess. It also has an infra-red interface so the activation functioncan be done from a remote 69, such as is common with TV control. Thelight or LED provides the alert function.

[0047] In this embodiment the Electronic Document Answering Machineperiodically connects to the Internet and downloads e-mail, othermessages, and WEB pages as preprogrammed. At each access, if newmaterial is downloaded, the alert is activated. The user need only tuneto a video input channel and access messages and the like via a buttonon the remote controller. In some TV integrated embodiments a keyboard71 may be provided, which can be infra-red connected, other wireless, orwired directly to the set-top box, for use in composing answers toe-mail and the like. This implementation requires some special settingsfor a service provider, such as conversions of attachments and the like.

[0048] In still another embodiment of the Electronic Document AnsweringMachine is combined with a soft-modem. In this embodiment a second linecan be added having a reduced baud rate (9,600 or 14,400 bps). Thisallows a small office/home office (SOHO) system with separate outgoingmessages on the two lines (one private, one business), as well abilityto receive faxes on both lines. E-mail and WEB-surfing is done with thefaster of the two.

[0049] To accomplish the SOHO system, the top level software makes useof hardware buffering capabilities of the chips, as well as combiningboth lines onto a single interrupt, which allows exclusive access duringextended periods of time. A single chip in this embodiment controls twoCODECs and two line interfaces. In this manner the system can receive afax while picking up e-mail on the other line.

[0050] It will be apparent to those with skill in the art that there aremany alterations that may be made in embodiments described withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it ispreferable that an operating system and operating code for thefree-standing external embodiments be embedded in ROM, but this is notmaterial to the invention. There are many ways the operating code may beimplemented as well. It is well-known that there are many individualpreferences among programmers for code to perform very similarfunctions. There are similarly many alternative ways the functionsdefining an Electronic Document Answering Machine according toembodiments of the present invention may be combined, providingtransparent e-mail and Internet access while alerting a user toavailability of new material to be assimilated. Other alterations withinthe spirit and scope of the invention will occur to those with skill inthe art.

What is claimed is:
 1. An Electronic Document Answering Machinecomprising: a CPU and memory connected by a communication bus; a modemconnected to the bus for communicating on a telephone line; anannouncement system for communicating stored documents to a user; analert apparatus for signaling a user that new documents are waiting tobe reviewed; and an input device for a user to signal the system tocommunicate the new documents to the user; wherein the CPU, executingstored control code, periodically connects to remote sources over themodem, downloads and stores digital documents in portions of the memory,and activates the alert apparatus as new documents are stored, andwherein the CPU in response to input from a user via the input device,communicates stored documents one-at-a-time to the user.
 2. TheElectronic Document Answering Machine of claim 1 wherein theannouncement system comprises a speaker and voice synthesis apparatus.3. The Electronic Document Answering Machine of claim 1 wherein theannouncement system comprises a display apparatus.
 4. The ElectronicDocument Answering Machine of claim 1 additionally comprising a serialport for connecting to a host personal computer (PC), wherein theElectronic Document Answering Machine is adapted to communicate storeddocuments to the PC for processing.
 5. The Electronic Document AnsweringMachine of claim 4 adapted for use by the PC as a modem.
 6. TheElectronic Document Answering Machine of claim 1 wherein the modem isoperated by the CPU and has no separate CPU.
 7. The Electronic DocumentAnswering Machine as in claim 1 wherein the remote sources include anInternet mail server, and downloaded documents include e-mail addressedto a particular user.
 8. The Electronic Document Answering Machine ofclaim 1 wherein the alert apparatus is an LED and the input apparatus isa pushbutton having the LED integrated in the pushbutton.
 9. TheElectronic Document Answering Machine of claim 8 further comprising asecond pushbutton adapted for applying and removing power to power-usingelements of the Machine.
 10. An Electronic Document Answering System ina personal computer (PC), comprising: a retriever adapted forperiodically retrieving and storing digital documents over a telephoneline; an alert apparatus for signaling a user that one or more newdocuments have been retrieved and stored and are ready for review; andan initializing input for a user to signal the system to communicate thestored documents one-at-a-time for review by the user; wherein thesystem is adapted to operate using CPU and memory elements of the PCwith special operating code provided for the system, and to operateduring periods of time the PC is in reduced-power power as well as whenthe PC is in full operating mode.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein thedigital documents include e-mail addressed to the PC user.
 12. Thesystem of claim 10 wherein the alert apparatus is an LED and the inputapparatus is a pushbutton having the LED integrated in the pushbutton.13. The system of claim 12 wherein the alert apparatus and thepushbutton are in a keyboard in communication with the PC.
 14. Thesystem of claim 13 wherein the alert apparatus is an LED in a standardkeyboard adapted to serve as the alert apparatus, and the inputapparatus is a standard key on the keyboard adapted to serve as thepushbutton.
 15. An Electronic Document Answering Machine for use with aTV set, comprising: a CPU and memory connected by a communication bus; amodem connected to the bus for communicating on a telephone line; analert apparatus for signaling a user that new documents are waiting tobe reviewed; an audio/video output port connected to the bus; and aninfra-red port for receiving infra-red signals from a remote controller;wherein the CPU, executing stored control code, periodically connects toremote sources over the modem, downloads and stores digital documents inportions of the memory, and activates the alert apparatus as newdocuments are stored, and wherein the CPU in response to input from auser via the infra-red port, communicates stored documents one-at-a-timeto a TV set via the audio/video output port.
 16. The Electronic DocumentAnswering Machine of claim 13 wherein the remote sources includeInternet servers, and digital documents include e-mail and WEB pagesdownloaded from the Internet servers.